“Sing praise to the LORD, all his faithful people! Remember what the Holy One has done, and give him thanks!”

What really happened that David praised God so much and went as far as asking others to praise God too?

David was now King. Against procedure and coupled with a wrong motive, David ordered a census of Israel (2 Samuel 24). Needless to say, this infuriated God. As expected, a prophet in the person of Gad was sent to King David to make God’s mind known to him.

The prophet promptly made known to him God’s position concerning David’s census of Israel. Not only that, judgement was to be meted out accordingly. So three options were presented before the king.(1) Seven years of famine in Israel. (2) David to run from his enemies for three months. (3) Or three days plague in Israel. David chose option 3 as he preferred to fall into the hands of God than into the hands of man. That night 70,000 men were slain by the angel of the LORD just because of a single act by one man!

But God could not bear the pains of seeing His own nation being slain. So He ordered the angel on duty to withhold his sword and immediately detailed prophet Gad to instruct King David on what to do to appease God and atone for his sin.

An immediately, David went to Araunah, the Jebusite and bought his threshing floor and there David built and altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings.

David began this Psalm thus: “I will praise you, LORD, because you have saved me and kept my enemies from gloating over me.” He chose rather to be punished by God to being chased for three months by an enemy.

Then verse 2 says: “I cried to you for help, O LORD my God, and you healed me;” (see 2 Samuel 24:10, 17). Verse 3 reads: “You kept me from the grave. I was on my way to the depths below, but you restored my life.” David knew that had God not restrained the death angel from further slaughter, he might have lost his life.

“His anger lasts only a moment, his goodness for a lifetime. Tears may floor in the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (verse 5). Though God was angry, His anger was for a moment. He sought for a way to deliver His children from further death. Please read remaining verses of Psalm 30 for more understanding.

Having considered his sins and weaknesses against God’s goodness, mercies and love, little surprise David burst into praise of God.

We all must cultivate the attitude of praise as we would have been consumed if God is to judge us according to our deeds.

Truly, God is good. In good times and in bad times; praise Him for His mercies endure forever.